Boot or shoe



(No Model.)

H. E. RANDALL.

BOOT 03 $1103.

N0;'293.354. Patented Feb. 12, 1884.

UNTTED STATE -ATENT rricn.

HENRY EDWARD RANDALL, or NORTHAMPTON, COUNTY OF NORTHAMP- a TON, ENGLAND.

,BOOT OR'SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,354, dated February 12, 1884.

Application filed April 28, 1883. (No model.) Patented in England December I, 1882, No. 5,739; in France April 18, 1883, No. 154,938; in Belgium April 27, 1883, No. 61,240; in Canada August 10, 1883, No. 17,439, and in Italy September 30, 1883, XVII, 15,732,

and XXXI, 34s.

To aZZ whom it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, HENRY EDWARD RAN- DALL, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain,

residing at Northampton, in the county of Northampton, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a tion, and this mode of fixing possesses disadvantages. Among others, the solution becomes soft under the effect of heat, and the indiarubber sole in consequence frequently comes away from the leather sole. A rubber sole has also been split at its edge, a portion of su ch split part being stitched to theshoe, and the other portion turned down and cemented over these stitches. Rubber soles have also been i made with beveled edges and bordered with a leather strip of the same thickness, and having a beveled inner edge, such leather border being secured to the boot or shoe by cementing, pegging, or sewing. These methods are expensive and not sufficiently durable and satisfactory. Now, by my invention these defects are remedied and india-rubber soles connected to the leather soles according to my improvements are not liable to leave. the leather sole from the effects of heat orother cause, nor can any portions of the rubber outermost sole be-.

' come separated from each other; and my invention consists in constructing the boot or shoe with a flanged rubber outer sole stitched through such flange to the leather sole of the shoe, all as clearly hereinafter described. I

1 plans of Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the soleof the same. I Fig. a

3 is a plan showing the india-rubber sole and heel in separate pieces. Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations of the foot-pressers I employ in carrying out my invention, and Figs. 6 and 7 are e Similar letters in all the figures represent similar or corresponding parts.

In carrying out my invention, instead of cutting the soles from sheets of india-rubber, v as hitherto, I form the soles a separately, (in molds or otherwise) of the required shape, and with a flange or plain border, I), all around, and with projections or ribs, and of the required width and strength, for the purpose of allowing the rubber sole to to be stitched onto 6 5 the leather sole 0.

To the ordinary boot-stitching machine, in place of the usual foot-presser, I adapt a footpresser constructed either with one prong, d, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, or with two prongs, dd, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, for pressing on the flange b. of the rubber sole a, during the stitching operation the needle passing at the side of the prong d, or through the space a between the prongs cl d, whereby the stitching operation may be performed without in: jury to the rubber. I have found that the presser with one prong, d, is best suited for use when the flange b of the sole is required to be left narrow, and the presser with two -8o prongs, d 61, when the flange b is required to be left wider. I do not, however, in this application make any claim for a presser-foot of a sewing-machine, but illustrate the same, the better to show how my improved shoe or boot 8 5 is outer-soled in a sewing-machine.

The india-rubber sole a, construct-ed as hereinbefore described and shown, is placed on the leather sole 0 of the shoe, a small portion of solution being advantageously employed to hold the same in place while being stitched.

In stitching on the rubber sole the hereinbefore-described foot-presser presses the flange or border 6 closely against the leather sole 0, while the needle passes through the leather 5 sole 0 and the flange b of the rubber sole aand firmly stitches them together.

Lawn-tennis shoes having indiaTubber soles manufactured as hereinbefore described, may

thus be fair-stitched, which has not hithleather, and as this leather is blocked to the shape of the model or last on which itis made, the india-rubbersole is drawn up to the shape of the same, so as to produce an arch at the waist of the sole, and thereby improve the appearance and fit of the sh0e,whereas when the india-rubber soles are cemented on as hitherto the same are flat and uncomfortable to the wearer.

Instead of the india-rubber soles and heels being formed in one piece, as hereinbefore described, and shown in Figs. 1 and 2, they may be made in separate pieces, as shown in Fig. 3, the hereinbefore-described flange 11 passing all round the sole and heel.

Instead of the india-rubber sole abeing fair? stitched to the leather sole 0, as hereinbefore described, the india-rubber sole may be sewed to the leather solebythe ordinary boot-sewing machine of the kindknown asthe Blake and Goodyear boot-sewing machine, in which case the foot-pressers hereinbefore described, and shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 would not be required.

The flange b of the indiavrubber sole a may be formed with a grooveto receive the stitches, and in all cases the stitches. may, if required, be covered with a suitable cement.

In the drawingsIhave shown the india-rubber sole and heel formed with transverse projections or ribs of atriangular shape in section; but it will be evident that the projections of the sole may be of any other suitable shape such as lozenge or. pyramida1or of an ornamental design, as may be required.

' I am aware that arubber outer solehas been split at its edges, then secured to another sole through a portion of such split edge, and the split parts then cemented together. My construction, however, differs materially from this, as it requires no splitting and no turning over or holding down during the sewing of any split portion, the sole being all solid, and

having a complete rabbet or flange,which not only serves as a fixed guide while sewing, but

also permits the thicker part between the flanges to protect the stitches from wear.

Having thus described my invention and the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is I In a lawn-tennis or other boot or shoe, an

' inner sole of leather, in combination with an outer sole, a, of rubber, made with-a border or flange of lesser thickness than the main body of such outer sole, and united by a line of -stitching through such flange to the leather sole, all as shown and described.

HENRY EDNARD RANDALL.

\Vitnesses: I

S. F. REDFERN, T. PRICE. 

